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Government surveillance equipment is low volume and high margin, so hand assembly makes sense. The tape also makes sense as a way of disguising the device. A sh

by gnu8 12y ago

Government surveillance equipment is low volume and high margin, so hand assembly makes sense. The tape also makes sense as a way of disguising the device. A shiny plastic box wouldn't look like it belongs on the car, but most cars have wiring harnesses covered with black tape.

Sanddancer 12y ago
The more I look at what else is out there in vehicle tracking, the weirder this thing becomes. Other tracking devices that people have discovered [1] have been much more professionally assembled, with epoxy blobs coating interesting chips and everything. Additionally, fleet telemetric devices that are battery powered and use cell signals and gps also look a lot more professional than this, with plastic casings, neat soldering jobs, etc. This feels like an odd amateur tracking device of some sort, which IMO makes it even more interesting than a government tracker. [1] http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/threatlevel/2011/11/GPS-Tracker-with-Clam-Shell-and-Battery_Jon-Snyder.jpg http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/threatlevel/2011/11/GPS-Tr...
- gnu8 12y ago
  That is extremely interesting. If it wasn't a legal authority that placed the device, then maybe the police can get involved and subpoena the sim card provider, ISP of whatever host the device connects to, etc.
  - jellicle 12y ago
    What crime would they be investigating?
    - gnu8 12y ago
      Good question. Maybe a statute against stalking would apply, or perhaps vandalism of a vehicle. These are not major offenses but they'd at least put the identity of the offender on record.